Lace-curtain stretcher and drier.



M. SMITH. LACE CURTAIN STRETGHER AND DRIER.

APPLICATION TILED JUNE 1,1908.

WITNESSES: IN VENTOR 7 BY WM W k g w. Qw q A TTORNE Y.

1H: NORRIS FETIRS co.. wAsmNornN, n. c.

M. SMITH.

LACE GURTAIN STRETGHER AND DRIER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1,1905%.

Patented Dec. 1, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

R m m m WITNESSES:

A T'I'ORNE Y 1m: mums r512 50., WASHINJ'ION, n. z

I MOSES SMITH, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

LACE-CURTAIN STRETCHER AND DRIER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1, 1908.

Application filed June 1, 1908. Serial No. 436,160.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Moses SMITH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lace- CurtainStretchers and Driers, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is the construction of a device that willespecially serve as a stretcher and drier for a plurality of lacecurtains in the most limited space possible and that may be foldedcompactly for shipping and storage.

I accomplish my object by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which,-

Figure l is a front elevation of the entire device when set up for use;Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a perspective of thedevice in folded position; Fig. 4c is a sectional elevation of a clampin position; Fig. 5 is a sectional plan of the separable base of thedevice showing one door fastened as when the device is set up, the otherdoor released to fold against its base; Fig. 6 is a detail of a curvedslotted hinge strap and thumb screw engaging with an upper arm, brokenaway; Fig. 7 is a detail of a slotted strap and thumb screw engagingwith a lower arm, broken away; Fig. 8 is a detail of a brace bar, andFig. 9 is a perspective of a clamp in position as seen from the rearside of a standard and arm.

Similar letters refer to similar parts in the several views.

The device is constructed, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, in duplicate partsfacing oppositely, each part having a base A with feet or supports A A.These bases A A are rigidly connected with each other by means of doorsB B each of which is provided with a hinge b at one end, which hinge isalso fastened to the contacting base A, thus allowing said door to befolded fiat against the inside of its supporting base; the opposite endis provided with a hook, or other suitable fastening, by which it isadapted to engage with the opposite base A when the device is set up foruse. When the stretcher and drier is set up these doors hold the partsof the base in rigid position. The superstructure of the device consistsoftwo uprights C G having caps C C, each upright having a centralvertical slot D extending from its cap to a point somewhat above base A.On each side of said slot metal strips I) D are rigidly fastened, theinner edges extending slightly inside the vertical of the slot. Arms EF. each have connection with base A by means of a metal strap F rigidlyfastened at one end to the arm, its other end provided with a slot f inwhich a thumb screw F operates, thereby permitting the arm to be folded,when not in use, up against the projecting extension piece E of thesuperstructure, as shown in Fig. 3. Each side of the superstructure isalso provided with duplicate up per arms H H, their inner ends providedwith metal straps H H, the outer ends of which are rigidly fastened tothe arms; the inner end 72, of each strap is curved downward at a rightangle with its outer end and provided with a slot it that is bothhorizontal and vertical. The inner ends of said upper arms are spacedsomewhat apart; the slotted ends of the straps close said space lappingover each other. A thumb screw I operates in these slots, extends intoslot D and engages with the inner edges of metal strips D D. By means ofsaid thumb screw I operating through slots h it and in slot D betweenmetal strips D D said arms are held at any desired elevation, and whenthe device is not in use said arms may be folded vertically against theface of the superstructure as also shown in Fig. 3.

J J are standards for supporting the outer ends of each set of arms. Toclamp the standards and arms I stamp from a metal sheet a central plateK with clasps 7c is on its opposite side edges at opposite ends. One ofthese clasps is adapted to be slid upon a standard, the other upon anarm, and to be held in position on the standard and arm by headed screws70 k, thus holding the arm and standard in rigid engagement.

L L are brace bars provided with notches j j adapted to engage with thearms, thereby holding both upper and lower arms on both sides of thedevice in firm position. Through the slidable feature of the clampclasps it will be seen that the outer ends of upper arms H H can bereadily adjusted to any height desired, the inner ends being at the sametime lowered or raised to a corresponding height by means of thumb screwI operating in slot D, engaging with the inner edges of metal strips DI) and retained in its adjusted position by a nut or head 03 rigid onthe inner end of the screw rod. The front sides of the base projections,arms and standards, are provlded with metal brads or pins 0 upon whlchlace curtains may be I held in stretched position until dry. To preventthese brads working out, a metal strip 0 is fastened upon each standardand arm back of the brads. The upper arms being adjustable verticallyand the standards adjustable horizontally the device can be adjusted tocurtains of any length and width, or simultaneously to curtains ofdifferent length and width, and when not in use the device can bequickly folded and held in small compass by rods P P, as shown in Fig.3.

The device, as shown, is adapted to hold four curtains, simultaneously,but I reserve the right to construct it for two curtains only or byextension through mechanical changes to a greater number than fourcurtains without altering the scope of my invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a lace curtain stretcher and drier the combination of duplicatebases and supports, duplicate doors hinged and fastened to oppositebases, duplicate uprights on said bases provided with caps and verticalslots, the front and rear vertical metal strips thereon, duplicate lowerarms and slotted straps connecting the same, thumb screws adapted toengage with said slotted straps and bases and support said armshorizontally or in folded vertical positions, duplicate upper arms andcurved slotted straps connected with the same, thumb screws engagingwith said curved slots and the slots and metal strips on said uprightsand adapted to support said upper arms horizontally at any adjustedheight or hold the same rigid when folded in vertical position,standards to sup port the outer ends of said upper and lower arms,plates and the clasps projecting at right angles from the oppositevertical side edges thereof slidable upon said arms and standards topermit adjustment to the length and width of curtains, headed screws insaid clasps to hold the arms and standards clamped in adjustedpositions, notched brace bars engaging opposite sets of arms,-and rodsfor holding the parts compact when closed, substantially as set forthand shown.

2. In a .curtain stretcher and drier the combination with a base, of asuperstructure having a vertical slot central therein, lower armsprojected oppositely from the ends of said base and straps and thumbscrews to support the same to said base, upper arms and the strapsattached thereto having inner curved ends and a thumb screw engagingwith the slots in said curved straps and with said central slot tosupport the inner ends of said arms when in use and bind them to thestructure when folded, standards, and clasps having headed screws toclamp the standards and arms rigidly together at any adjusted horizontaland vertical position, substantially as shown and described.

3. A lace curtain stretcher and drier comprising a base, the hingeddoors therein, the vertical slotted uprights supported on said base, theupper and lower duplicate sets of adjustable arms carried by saiduprights and base, the standards to support the outer ends of the arms,the clasps to clamp the arms to the standards, and the brace bars tohold duplicate opposite sets of arms rigidly in spaced position,substantially as shown and set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MOSES SMITH.

Witnesses EDMOND S. BROWN, F. A. HARRIS.

